A roached out rig with rust, rot and decay is not "Patina" Rust no matter how much clear you put on it is not patina. Patina is like your granddad's old but well cared for saddle that he saddle soaped and used leather care on on a regular basis and you could see the signs of use and wear but it showed that it was always taken care of . Anthony's wagon and Flatheadjohn47's Ford show just or the wagon will when it is all buffed out. no rust to speak of, you can see a few spots where the paint is worn thin and maybe polished thin but They shine or will shine. THIS IS REAL PATINA AS FAR AS ON A CAR GOES Personally I prefer decent paint even if it isn't a world class show quality paint job. That because I ran my truck way too many years in primer and am just flat tired of it not looking as nice as it could. The guys in my area will tell you that I always showed up with afresh coat of primer at the local big event every year and some times you could catch a lacquer buzz if you stood real close because it was that fresh. Lately though I can't argue the fact that having a running driving car to go have fun with beats the hell out of not being able to take one out because it is still in the building or finishing stages. I've got a rather plain not chopped version of my 48 going together right now that I hope to be able to drive around the first of July and for sure the end of July that in a lot of respects will be pretty plain and simple with maybe not much more than a spray can primer job on it.
Every bump, bruise and what not on my drag coupe was earned over decades of of racing and other adventure. The red paint job was done in the 60's and remains on the car. I am not a big fan of this fake patina stuff. I would not worry about shiny paint right off. Get her running and driving nice and enjoy. If you make them to nice, they are not fun anymore.
The deal with the wife’s wagon is it is/was a rotted out mess. But repairs and spot paint repair is the plan If the wife wants to pay for the chrome, stainless work and paint materials we might just spray it. It’s already a jambs in job. Fresh paint and crappy trim dont match in my world. the other is return of $$$$. Why spend ten bucks to increase the value 8 bucks. The best value is old paint and trim , running and driving
There is no engine in the car...start there. Worrying about which pants to wear to the dance...with two broken legs.
You are 16 years old, most of my car are older than that. With limited time and money I would clean up the paint (not repaint), find a running amc parts car with an inline 6 258?. Transplant the engine and transmission in to your car and enjoy the hell out of before life gets in the way.
I taught (still part time) and English was one of the subjects. “Patina” if I recall correctly is the oxidation you find on copper. Blueish green not rusty brown...
Really? My friend Dan Hanke with an 80 cubic inch flathead he restored for a customer… and his personal motorcycles…. I guess he blows a hole in that theory!
Hello, I have been on a custom station wagon art foray for quite some time. When I see a cool looking station wagon, I see if I can make it a cool street car, custom car for shows or what. So, I find one, try my best to draw it as shapely as I can and detail it as a custom car. A little change here and there. Etc. Eventually, the finished product sometimes looks good and other times, it gets shoved back to the art file for another day and different ideas. I had partially completed a lowered raked Nash Rambler Station Wagon into a Nomad style design and added some custom touches. Then I got distracted by a Chevy Nova small two door wagon that would be our current road trip wagon and still fit in our small 2 car garage. I even made a 4 door version for comparison. Rear passenger access being a good thing for our extended family and all... Jnaki But, my two door Nomad version for the Rambler took a lot of customization from the 4 door stock version. It is still not finished as yet. I think it is finished, then some changes get made to alter the overall look. So, now, it is resting in the files for a rainy day. Wait… it has been raining for several days in a row, this week… Geez, I might have to finish it sometime in the coming week, when more rain is expected.. For your project or future project, perhaps a nice buffing on the bland paint and some nice wheels and tires would give it some cool life span for your uses. An SBC motor/transmission for smooth power would be able to take you anywhere… This is what your buffed up station wagon could look like relatively stock, but with some added touches… Note: I originally started with a stock 4 door version and got so far, so wheels and color were easily added to the overall look. My custom version is a two door Nomad style that still needs a lot of work. YRMV
Put me in the leave it alone or buff it out & repaint the roof (metalflake) categories. With a complete stock looking repaint, it will just be another old car. Now, it has the paint-by-Mother Nature look that can't be duplicated. Although, several have tried (& failed).
@Chris has a dozen (or more!) vehicles where he's saved/improved the paint by cleaning and then polishing. This car would be a great candidate. Maybe paint the roof and carry on, for now.
I don't know if it's been said, but fresh paint leads to a domino effect. With the new paint the chrome looks dull, the wheels and tires will look old and worn, the interior won't match the freshness of the new paint. Leave it as it is, broken in and comfortable like a pair of faded and worn 501's, if people still wear those.
yup, you're right. The domino effect is why you never get to drive the car, if you take it apart for paint, instead of just getting it running. yes, I still wear 501s.
Wow, small world when we're talking Ramblers. That 1960 Station Wagon at Disneyland used to be in my family! It was a beautiful Pink/White low mile car that my dad bought around 2003 because it was the exact color and year as his grandmothers' . We ultimately had it for sale online for what we thought was a ridiculous price, (the not for sale price) and a rep from the park called and purchased it sight unseen and no negotiating. It was repainted Yellow locally in LA, and was installed next to that Tiki Bar, this was years before the Cars film section of the park was added on, but it still survives and is seen by over 17 million visitors annually!
What a good car in exceptional shape. Maybe you should sell it. You’ll need to get the paperwork in order where its transferable. You’ll need to carefully put it back together installing the hood and grille. Wash it, wax it, clean it up inside and out. Do not take anything else apart. Take photos with a clean and tidy background and sell that joker. Use that money for a more mainstream Chevy, Ford or Mopar. There is a reason why that car has no engine or running gear. Now if a Rambler Wagon is the car of your dreams, clean it up and start looking for an engine and transmission. Get all the books like shop manuals and all that stuff.
Welcome aboard! As you are a newish driver, you or the other newish drivers around you may tend to add a few bruises or worse no matter how careful you are. I’ve been there. As you budget for drivetrain, don’t forget to check brakes, steering, age of tires, integrity of chassis and underside, door latch correct operation, solid exhaust system and lights before worrying about the paint. It is a lot to tackle as you revive an idle rig, but, you will learn and make memories too.
My old Deuce beater was originally painted when new then the original owners grandson started driving the car he repainted the car in 1962, personally I like the car showing it's age, the paint is far from perfect but all the scratches and scars have been earned by driving the car, the car is still sporting the original running boards & top insert. I like the car just like it is, the paint is old ,the primer on the repaired fenders has faded and the semi gloss Kirker paint on the hood is left over paint from my old Deuce pickup, some day I may paint it with the semi-gloss Kirker black and then again I might not. If I was to paint the car I am afraid 3WLarry might turn over in his grave! He loved the look of my sedan. HRP 3wLarry, Jun 18, 2012
Buffed and waxed old paint rules. Repaired areas painted to match the old paint, (spotted in) rules. A new fancy paint job, like previously stated above, makes the original chrome and upholstery look like crap.
That was a little humour referring to the crapped out rusty vehicles that refer to them as “patina” and not the survivors that show well earned age...
The Rambler looks fine to me..,thats patina…get it up and running and roadworthy. Maybe later down the road you may want to try your hand at painting… a stoned monkey can squirt acrylic urethane with great results,,,cheap like borscht
Your 16 ? COOL! Well welcome to ta HAMB. If I were 16, and had that neat little wagon. This is what I'd do. Just get it running real good. Then tie some inner tubes to the top, grab my girl. Head to the creek or beach, and just have a bunch of fun with it. Don't worry about car shows, or if the paint is perfect. Just make lots of great memories with it. Then keep it until your 70, and that little car will be priceless. { to you } A picture of our old wagon get'n groceries, and just have'n fun for over 45 years now. Hay you asked my opinion. .
Hey @jazz1 Grinning to myself here, purely as a point of reference, (BORSCHT) Is NOT a mis pronunciation of a well known German automobile! Everyone's results may vary greatly!
Exactly. I painted other folks stuff and had nice cars and bikes that I painted for years. I more enjoy survivors with some story now and would definitely prefer that over a perfect paint job. That is the main reason I keep my 56...survivors like it are hard to find. But, on the other hand, my Merc coupe will be a nice car. No opportunity for it to look decent without painting the whole car when considering the needed rust repair, chop, etc. So, just because someone chooses not to put an expensive paint job on their car doesn't mean they can't do it... Oh, and nice bikes. I painted a buddies 1937 80 inch flathead about 30 years ago that was way cool as well. That was back when I could make very good money painting bikes for guys that liked to spend too much on their new Harleys...
I'm could never understand the clear over rust fad if you like the old rusty car thing run it that way. I'm glad to see painted cars make a comeback I too think there's a difference between rust and patina my fairlane wears mostly original paint and has all the patina to prove it right down to the cattle wear marks on the quarter panel and the dent on the roof when the hood popped open on My brother.
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